Govt does away with greenbelts around industrial colonies

Pradeep Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 30

The pollution level in industrial towns across Haryana is set to rise with the Khattar Government doing away with mandatory greenbelts around industrial colonies.

“The provision of a greenbelt around an industrial colony in the agricultural zone of the development plans for high, medium and low-potential zones is deleted. However, the green/open space within the industrial colony shall be provided as per norms,” states an order issued by the Principal Secretary, Town and Country Planning Department .

The earlier policy dated January 10, 2017, provided for a 20 metre-wide green belt around an industrial colony. However, an amendment in view of the Enterprises Promotion Policy, 2015, deleted the provision for a greenbelt around an industrial colony in low and medium-potential towns of Haryana. However, in respect of an industrial colony in high-potential towns (the major industrial townships), a 10-metre greenbelt was to be provided. However, the new order issued on October 10, 2017, dispended with the provision for a greenbelt in low, medium and high-potential zones across Haryana.

Officials said the environment concerns of industrial townships would still be taken care of as there was a provision for mandatory greenbelts/open spaces within the industrial colonies.